Telegraph apparatus



March 17, 1942. J. W. LONG ETAL 2,276,991

' TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Filed June 9. 1939 2 Sheets-#Sheet 1 "numb 1 INVENTORS J.W. LONG BY G. l. ROBERTS ATTORNEY March 17, 1942. 1. w. LONG Erm. 2,275,991

' TELEGRAPH APPARATUS filed June 9, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTORS' J. W, LONG GA I. ROBERTS A ATTRNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1942 Unirse ,nani

tr-ics TELEGRAPH APPARATUS ration of New York Application June 9, 1939, Serial No. 278,260

(Cl. 1mi-12) 19' Claims.

This invention relates primarily to telegraph apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for association with telegraph printers or receivers which are selectively controlled by received code combinations of impulses to provide an auxiliary signal controlled paper feeding means for assisting in a predetermined manner the advancement of the recording paper through the associated printers or receivers.

The principles of the invention are shown and hereinafter described as cooperating with a stationary platen page printer, such-printers, as well known in the art, having a stationary printing platen and a type of printing mechanism movable to and fro in front of the platen to eifect letter spacing and carriage return functions in conjunction with the printing of characters representative of received code combinations in successive transverse lines or rows on the recording paper or web, the platen being rotated or stepped a predetermined amount at the completion of one line of print to advance the recording paper and present a clear section thereof to the printing mechanism. The invention is shown associated with the above type of printing merely for the purpose of illustration and it will be evident hereinafter that the principles of the invention could be equally well applied to various other types of printers, such as for example a printer having a stationary printing mechanism and a platen which moves to and fro to effect the letter spacing and carriage return functions.

Telegraph page printers or receivers commonly used at present, such as those employed in telegraph central oiiices wherein it is advantageous to have each telegram or message recorded on a separate sheet of paper or telegraph blank of substantially uniform size or of not less than a predetermined minimum size, generally have the paper supplied thereto in the form of separate sheets or blanks of uniform size or from a continuous roll. When the paper is supplied in the form of separate sheets which are usually the size of an ordinary telegraph blank an attendant is required to place each blank in the receiving printer prior to the receipt of each message and at the end of each message remove the blank from the printer. After being removed from the printer the messages are usually deposited or placed on a belt or some such conveying means for conveyance to a central distributing point where they are routed to their proper destination. An appreciable length of time is required for the above manual operations of removing one blank from the printer and the insertion of the next for the proper recording of the next message thereon and obviously during such times it is necessary that the transmitting station remain idle which results in lost line time. Although the time required to accomplish the above operations between two consecutive messages may be very short, a certain minimum is required to insure that the operations are completed and in the course of a day the total line time thus lost may be a considerable amount. With printers supplied with a continuous roll of paper the paper may be advanced between messages by the transmission of a suicient number of line feed signals or it may be manually advanced by an attendant at the receiving printer Who also cuts or tears the paper at the proper places to separate the messages into blanks of substantially uniform size. The arrangement of transmitting the necessary number of line feed signals at the end of a message needlessly consumes line time and places an additional burden on the transmitting operator of having to keep an account or record of the number of line feed signals transmitted during the message so as to be able to determine the number that should be transmitted at the end of a message, such an arrangement also being tedious for the operator and susceptible of errors. Where the transmitting operator has to Wait for the attendant at the receiving printer to manually advance the paper the proper amount, line time is also lost and if the attendant is not watching the printer closely this operation is apt to be neglected resulting, where the messages are comparatively short, of two or more messages appearing on a blank where there should be only one. Thus it is evident that any of the above arrangements generally used have the disadvantage of wasting an appreciable amount of line time between messages and also requires a considerable amount of an attendants time and attention at the receiving printer and the number of printers one attendant can efficiently supervise is therefore limited.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an attachment for page printers of the above type so that when the printers are used in services where it is advantageous for the purpose of distribution, etc. to have each recorded message appear on -a separate sheet or blank, or on a strip that can be easily separated into separate sheets or blanks of substantially uniform size or of not less than a minimum size, a predetermined signal transmitted at the end of each message automatically advances the paper varying amounts so that the amount of paper advanced in conjunction with each message is substantially the same or not less than a predetermined minimum amount. In the above arrangement the recording paper will obviously be supplied to the printer from a roll, fanfold arrangement or other means providing a continuous length of paper.

In accordance with the above, another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism operating in conjunction with the automatic signal controlled paper advancing means which, depending upon the adjustment thereof, severs or partially severs the paper to form separate message blanks or a partially severed strip which may easily be separated into separate message blanks of substantially a uniform size or of not less than a minimum size.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for automatically advancing the recording paper in a printer so that when the length of a message exceeds a predetermined length or more than what can be printed on an ordinary size blank, the paper is advanced to bring the last printed line a predetermined distance past'l the severing point.

Another object of the invention in accordance with the above is to provide means for varying the amount that the last printed line of a message is advanced past the severing point when the length of the message exceeds a predetermined length.

Another object of the invention is to accomplish the advancement of the paper through the printer and the severing or partial severing thereof in less time than would be required to ordinarily transmit a number of line feed signals to advance the paper an equal amount.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simplicity of operation thereof, the minimum number of parts required, and the ease of attaching the same to printers of the above type.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter when taken in conjunction with the following detailed description thereof and the accompanying drawings, in the latter of which- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention, together with some of the elements of a, page printer showing the cooperation of these elements with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view partly in section showing the. printing platen of the printer and the paper severing mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the clutch employed to drive the auxiliary paper advancing means;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the drive and the clutches employed for the auxiliary papel' advancing and severing mechanisms;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing one of the operating cams and the associated elements;

Fig. 6 is a view showing the mechanisms of Fig. 5 in different operated positions;

Fig. 7 is a sectonal View showing a part of the auxiliary paper advancing means and the control elements cooperating therewith; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the paper severing mechanisms.

lThe invention is hereinafter described in detail and shown in the drawings as being attached to operate in conjunction with and under the control of a stationary platen page printer disclosed in a copending application of J. W. Long et al., Serial No. 229,672, filed September 13, 1938. However, it will be evident that the principles of the invention may be readily applied to other types of printers. In the drawings only so much of the parts of the above mentioned printer are shown as cooperate with the elements of the invention and are thought nec'essary for a thorough understanding of the operation thereof.

In general the invention consists of a so-called paper metering or measuring device which is advanced from a normal position during line feed operations of the printer in response to line feed signals. The metering device comprises an auxiliary paper advancing mechanism and determines the amount of paper that is advanced by the end-of-message signal invariably transmitted at the end of each message. As the messages usually vary in length the number of line feed signals contained therein are variable and therefore in order that the blanks upon which each message appears be of substantially uniform size, the distance the paper has to be advanced at the end of each message is variable. The manner in which the metering device determines the variable length of paper advanced at the end of each message will hereinafter be described in detail.

After the recording paper has been advanced a variable amount in accordance with the position of the metering device at the time the endof-message signal is transmitted, a knife is operated which cuts the paper. Depending upon an adjustment the movement of the knife is variable so that it may completely sever the paper or form a series of cut sections therein at which point the blanks may be easily separated if and when it is desired.

Occasionally there are longer messages than the average and in such instances it is advantageous for them to appear on a single blank as a single message appearing on more than one blank is confusing. Accordingly the metering device is so adapted that when a message is of such a length that it cannot be recorded on a blank of the regular size, the metering device operates to advance the paper only enough to bring the last line of the message past the papercutting knife. The metering device may be adjusted so that the amount of paper advanced at the end of a message of unsual length may be varied so that the last line recorded on the message blank may be advanced variable distances past the cutting knife.

A more thorough and complete description of the invention may be had in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring rst to Fig. 1, a constantly rotating shaft II which may be for example the selector cam shaft of the associated printer, has fixed thereon for rotation therewith a gear I2. The gear I2 meshes with and drives another gear I3 located directly thereabove which in turn meshes with and drives a third gear I 4. The gear III is pinned to a hub I6, Figs. 3 and 4, by pins I'I to which is also pinned a ratchet I8. The ratchet I8 comprises the driving member of a grab clutch indicated in general by reference numeral I9, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and the driven member of the clutch comprises a recessed or hollow ended sleeve 2| which is xed to a shaft hub ata radial opening in the recess is a ratchet dog 24:.

jection 23 lof the dog to engage. the teeth of theV ratchet I8. However,. a stop ,-orytrip. 1ever29 position.

Whentlie stop or trip lever'l is actuated,r:as:-i hereinafter described,.the endzthereof `is disenfgagedV from the shioulderfSl -on ,the .dogv4 whereupon :the spring y2l pivots .the-dog: inra f clockwise direction as shownrin Fig.' 3 vtocauseA engagement cf the projection:28fwithsthevteeth3 ofthe rotating ratchet i3.A Thereupon the-sleevev 2I- Vrotates with the constantlyrotatingratchet for one revolution, it being stopped atv the end Y of 'a revolution-by the trip lever 29 lengagingthewi shoulder 3l on the dog to pivot the sameand f Withdraw the projection 28' from engagement with the teeth of the rotating .ratchet.-28. As' the trip lever 23 is only momentarily:operated,.

it will invariably be backin its normal-positiontoireengage the projection 3lV of-the dog 24 :and stopthe rotation of the sleeve `2l 'after veachfz; revolution-thereof. Thus the sleeve 2| and-.ther shaft 22 rotatable therewith are released for one and only one revolution at a time and during;

the rotation thereof control `the function ofwthe above mentioned meteringr deviceas Will bev`- described.

Loosely mounted on the forward end of the shaft 22 is a sleeve 32, Figs.` l and 7, which has fixed thereto for rotation therewith. a helical gear 33 and a tooth ratchet'wheel 34. Loosely mounted at the left hand end ofthe sleeve 32 ,-isr. a friction plate 35 .which has. pivotallyvrnountedfav on the vright and left hand faces thereof spring-f.-

biased pawls 3T and 33respectively. The .pawl-i 31 isadapted to cooperate with the teethof the at the left of the rfriction plate 35: A V-flat'fricdescribed this friction is ineffective.

Meshing with the-helical gear 33. and `located directly thereabcve is another helical 'gearV lfl2-A which is fixed for rotation therewith `tovthe z platen shaft 43. Mounted on the platen shaft.

43 is the platen All of the above mentioned printer which has the recording paper Llfin f frictional engagement therewith b-y meansinot.. shown) so that when the platen rotates the paperis advanced. Rotatable with the platenJM ands-... shaft is a ratchet 41 which is operatedzby a pawl 48 to step the platen'one linewspacewin,` response to each line feed signal; The pawl-z 48*- is operated through the instrumentalitiesof, the

associated bell crank i9 and lever 5l. 'andtheya comprise in part what may be ,calledthemain paper advancing mechanism.

Let it be assumed that the paper dShislin position to record therst line of; a message; or-A as itV willbe Ybefore any'line .ffeed signals-:have

The dog 24 is pivotally mounted vonsagpinr4 2Sk in theY sleeve 2l anda spring 21 attached to the outside of theV sleeve normally urges the profl beenreceived since thetransmissiongof theyende offmessage signal ati'the endofxthe preceding message.y For sucha `conditionthe relative po sitions of the CamQ'Xedto the shaft 22` .and '5 ',thepawl 33Y on the friction #plate 36 4will besuch that asashownin Fig. 5,.a radialV surface 52 on thecam will be in engagement with a projection 53 on the pawli 38.- Following` the first line of print of'the message aline feedy signal is rez-10. ceived which;;as previously described, rotates the normally engages a shoulder 3l on the dog 241to-r hold the projection 28 from vengaging the teeth of the ratchet I8 whereby the driven member :of: the Yclutch I9 is held at .rest in itsnormalfrest.;

platenashaft' and its' attached members to Y advancel the recording :paper 43 a distance of' onezline space.Y During this movement of ,the-

platenfshaft 43 -thegear 42 rotating therewith tinmesh'iwith the gear 33,? causes thesleever 32' fixed-to the gear'33 to rotate on the shaft 22. As theY sleeve 32 is thus stepped or rotated, thefrctionaplate 3dr-held inl frictional engagement therewith `byMthea-spring -M- also rotates. The.; 0 paw1-38-v on fthe left -handzsideof -the friction 53-on; the pawl to move away: from the *radialx surface 52A onthe cam: 39,'the camd 39 obviously remaining.` 'stationarywduring the rotationvof the 5 ysleeve 32A andthe-associated elements in response to' a fline feed signal.V Eachsubsequent line feed signalcauses-the sleeve 32 to be rotated an equal amount'and during-such lmovement of the sleeve thepawl-'wcontinuesto move around the cam` 39.

If the nurnbertoflinesV of print in the messagev are 5vsufficient to cause -the recording paper-.43 '2 to befadvancedapproximately one-half the disv 1x32- will have made approximately one-half a v revolution during the Areceipt ofthe associated line feedy signals.` This movement of thexsleeve 32A and friction plate 3B-z'will have rotated .the pavvl` 38 sufficiently 'to'. bring the projectionz 53 0, thereon out of loperative relation-with the notch inthe cam 39 and into operative lrelation with the sectionfof ma-Ximum'i-radius. As hereinbefore of a complete message an Aend-of-rnessage signal mechanism of the associated printer to initiate f I the advancement ofthe-recording papers vari'- ratchet 34 in a manner hereinafter :describedy` while the -pawl'38 cooperates with. a idisc1cam f 3S fixed to the shaft 22 for rotationtherewith x able amounts,- the -amountsdepending'upon the numberY of `line vfeedsignals in the previous mes-fA sage asY will be 'apparent hereinafter.

Thesselectormechanism `of the above f men'. tionedprint'er comprises a groupfcf five `longi-` tudinally movable levers such asY 54, Fig.- 1 which are selectively positionable into one or two positions in accordance-'with receivedisignals. The levers Vtilt-have'forrnedfalong-4 the length thereof a series of notchesefvvlriichcooperate with piv.- oted-levers such as- 5l' to controlthe operation of fsl-idable members .-53,-` onlyone'each of the :levers 5l andrnemberstwbeingshown. When; the :levers-5Ay are vselectively positioned in rev sponseto the end-of-messagez signal, a row of. the vnotches 5t therein will be in alignmentwith thepivoted lever 51, whereupon the `attached spring urgeszthe lever. into thevrovv\of-notches. Suchv movement of. the lever 'ilpermits the slidablemember 5S tol move towardthe right under the action of its attached spring `Yand place an upwardly extending..`IT projection 1.59- thereon beneath. adependingprojection 'nl ionA VCH copend-ingi application, c have pivotallyf attached: at.:theiri left hand endfthe:various-operating.' leversinot' shown) andthe right hand ,ends varen plate -36 moving therewith, causes the 'projectiontance -of a regularsize' blank; then'the sleeve described," following the receipt ori transmission istransmitted which 'is received on the selector:`

amassociated floating .or `function 1ever52.f Theoating -levers. suc'hasf 62,: as. described in the 1f all pivotedon a pin 63 carried in a cyclically operated member (not shown) which depresses the right hand ends of the levers 62 once during each cycle of operation of the printer.

Normally or during cycles of operation in which none of predetermined functions are performed, the floating levers such as 62 pivot idly about the operating links attached to their left hand ends and obviously do not perform their respective functions. However, when a projection such as 59 on a slidable member 58 moves beneath the depending section such as 6I adjacent the center of a floating lever 62, that particular floating lever pivots about the center thereof when the right hand end cyclically moves downward. The floating lever 62 shown, is used or employed to initiate the advancement of the paper at the end of the message and in response to the endof-message signal as will now be described.

A bell crank 64 pivotally mounted at 66 carries in the horizontal arm thereof an adjustable screw 6'! which is in operative relation with the upper edge of the oating lever 62 adjacent the left hand end thereof. When the floating lever 62 pivots about its left hand end, there is no appreciable movement of the bell crank 64, but when it pivots about the end of the depending section 6I adjacent the center thereof, the bell crank is caused to pivot in a clockwise direction. This pivoting movement of the bell crank 64 causes a substantially horizontal link member 68, the left hand end of which is attached to the depending arm of the bell crank 64, to move a slight amount toward the left. The right hand end of the link 68 is attached to a depending arm 69 fixed for movement therewith to a pivotable rod 1I. Also xed to the rod 'lI for pivotable movement therewith is the trip lever 29 and when the link 68 moves toward the left, the rod 'II is pivoted which causes the end of the trip levex.` 29 to be disengaged from the surface 3I on the dog 24 of the above described grab clutch I9. Thus the trip lever 29 is actuated to release the shaft 22 to make one revolution in conjunction with each selective operation of the floating lever 62.

It is obvious that any signal control device could be employed to trip the clutch I9 for one revolution at a time, the above described mechanisms being employed as they advantageously and conveniently fit in with the particular selector mechanism of the above mentioned printer.

If it is assumed that the message received prior to the selective operation of the oating lever 62 had a suflicient number of line feed signals therein to cause, as described, about one half a revolution of the sleeve 32, then the pawl 38 will have rotated approximately one-half a revolution and the projection 53 thereon will be substantially diametrically opposite the radial surface 52 on the cam 39. With the pawl 38 in this position at the time the shaft 22 is released for one revolution by the operation of the trip lever 29, the cam 39 will then have to make approximately one half a revolution before the radial surface 52 engages the projection 53 on the pawl. During this approximate one half revolution of the shaft 22 and the cam 39 there will be no rotative movement of the sleeve 32 and its associated elements as the friction created by the spring 4I which tends to rotate the sleeve with the shaft 22 is not suicient to rotate the platen shaft and its attached elements through the gears 33 and 42. When the radial surface 52 of the cam 39 has rotated suniciently to engage the projection 53 on described employed to rotate the shaft 22.

the pawl 38, which will be some time prior to the completion of a revolution of the cam 39, or after approximately one half a revolution for the above assumed set of conditions, further rotation thereof causes the pawl 38 to rotate with the cam 39. The pawl 38 in rotating also rotates the friction plate 36 together with the pawl 31 on its right hand face and during such rotation of the pawl 3l it engages the teeth of the ratchet 34 to rotate the same. The ratchet 34 being xed to the sleeve 32 rotates the same with the gear 33 whichin turn rotates the gear 42 fixed to the platen shaft 43. As the platen 44 is attached to the shaft 43 it will be rotated with the gear 42 and in such a direction as to advance the recording paper 46. The amount of such rotation of the platen 44 is dependent upon the amount of the rotation of the cam 39 after the radial surface 52 thereon engages or picks up the projection 53 on the pawl 38, and as above described the place of engagement is normally determined by the number of line feed signals transmitted or received during the previous message. Thus the sleeve 32 is adapted to normally make one complete revolution during the advancement of the recording paper an amount suiiicient to form a blank of the standard size The gears 33 and 42 and the size or circumference of the platen 44 are so arranged that the above is accomplished during one revolution of the sleeve 32. The sleeve 32 as described, is rotated during the first part of its revolution by line feed operations and during the remainder of a revolution in response to the end-of-message signal.

Fixed to the shaft 22, Fig. 1, for rotation therewith is a disc cam I2 which is adapted during the latter part of a revolution of the shaft 22 to pivot a bell crank I3 in a clockwise direction against the action of its attached spring '14. The bell crank is pivoted at 'I6 and the rightwardly extending arm thereof carries an adjustable screw l'l which is in operative relation with and normally engaged with a leftwardly extending arm 'I8 attached to the rod 'I9 for pivotal movement therewith. Also attached to the rod 'I9 is a trip lever 8| which controls the operation of a grab clutch indicated in general by reference numeral 82 Figs. 1 and 4 similar in construction and operation to the grab clutch I9 hereinbefore The driving member of the grab clutch 82 comprises a ratchet 83 which is pinned to the normally rotating gear I3 for rotation therewith, both of which together with a spacing collar 84 are loosely mounted on a shaft 86. The driven member of the clutch 82 comprises a recessed sleeve 8'! and associated dog 83, the sleeve 8l being fixed to the shaft 86 for rotation therewith by a set screw 89. 'I'hus through the above described mechanisms and the clutch 82 the shaft 86 is adapted to make one revolution concomitantly with each revolution of shaft 22 and because of the fact that a clutch 82 is tripped late in the cycle of operation of the shaft 22 substantially all of its rotation occurs after the shaft 22 has been brought to rest. The reasons for such arrangement will be obvious hereinafter.

In accordance with the invention the recording paper is severed or partially severed after it has been advanced to form a blank of standard size and the mechanism for severing the paper is controlled or operated from a cam 8l fixed to the shaft 86 for rotation therewith. Associated with the cam 8l is a follower 92 which is carried in the rightwardly extending arm of a bell crank 83pivoted at 89. An attached spring 9| keeps the follower 92 on the rightwardly extending arm of the bell crank in engagement with the periphery of the cam 8l. The upwardly extending arm of the bell crank carries in the end thereof a pin 93 which is in operative relation with a depending section 95 of a substantially horizontal plate 94. The plate 4 is adjustably attached by a screw extending through a curved slotv 91 therein to the right hand end of a lever S8 pivotally supported adjacent its center on a shoulder screw 99. The opposite end of the lever .9S carries a vertical pin lll to which is pivotally attached the right hand end of a pull bar l t2, Figs. l, 2 and 8, the left hand end Vof which is .pivotally attached to the lower end of. afdepending arm |03. The arm |63 is mcunted'on'the left hand end of a pivot rod '|84 for pivotable` movement Ytherewith and mounted on the right hand lend of the rod |04 is a second .arm |95. The-arm l carries in the free end thereof a roller lill which is in operative relation with the upper surface of a bent over portion |535 of a bracket |98. vThe bracket IElS, together with a knife memberi'lil, extending slightly more than Vthe full width of the recording paper 46, are attached to a longitudinal member The longitudinal member lll extends the full length of the knife IGS and fixed in the member H3, hasthe other end-.exltending beneath a projection H6 of the bracket S to hold the knife in its upper normal position and to return the same to its normal position after beingA actuated. As shown in Figs. l, 2 and.

3, the knife IGS is normallyabove the recording paper 45 and in such a position permits the free passage of the paper thereunder. kThe paper 46 in leaving the platen passes underneath a top guide plate ll'l and over two stationary guide` members H8 and H9. A third guide member |2|. is located between the guide members H8 and H9 and assists in the guidingV of the paper as will be hereinafter described.

Let it be assumed that the recording paper`4 v45 has been advanced in accordance with the operation of the metering device and it is desired to sever the same at a point directly beneath the knife lili?. The cam 8l for operating the knife as described is so arranged that its operating Y portion comes in engagement with the roller 92 after the paper has been advanced as obviously vthe paper should not be moving during the severing operation. As the cam 8l operates the bell crank 83 to pivot the same in a counter-clockwise direction the lever S8 is also pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction. This movement of the lever SS moves the pull bar IGZ toward the right which in turn pivots the arms |03 and the roller :i 'l in a counter-clockwise direction. This move- .ment of the rod HB4 pivots the arm |06 and .during such movement the roller H37 forces the bracket Il with the attachedknife |69 downward. The knife. comprises a comparatively thin .zblade which has-formedvon its lower edge aseries `arranged that when the pivotable guide of sharpened` points about 'aninch apart with l cutting'edges sloping upwardly therefrom at approximately forty-five degrees. During the first part of the vdownward movement of the knife y blade |09 the points thereof puncture the paper and then during further movement the sharpened cutting edges cut thepaper. The paper'llf Voffers some resistance to thefdownward movement of the knife |09 and causes the pivotable guide 2| on the under side of the paper to pivot a slight amount or until it is stopped on engagement with a fixed stop |24. The stop |24 is so |2| comes in contact the three guides H8, ||9 and |2| are in substantial alignment. The knife then passes between the small space formed between the two opposite edges of the guides IIS and |2| to cut the paper as described above.

The distance the knife moves downward is determined by the adjustment of the plate 94 on the lever 93 and with this adjustment such as to give maximum movement of the knife |09, the paper is completely cut. By adjusting the plate 94 to other positions the amount of movement of the knife |69 can be varied 'so that the distance the points of the knife pass through the paper may be only a slight amount or more as desired.

After the knife -hasbeen moved to its downward position and isl moving back into its normal position under the action of the spring ||4, the upper edge thereof engages the free end of a slightly flexible member |26 which is attached to the pivotable guide I2 This engagement piv ots the guide |2| back into its normal position as shown in Fig. 2 so that the free edge thereof is v a slight amount above and out of line with the guides I I8 and i9. This movement of the pivotable Vguide |2| raises the paper slightly andprevents the slightly curled edge incident to the cutting operation on the leading edge of the paper from curling down in the knife slot between the opposite edges of the guides I2| and 9 when the paper is subsequently'advanced. While this feature of the movable guide |2| is obviously not necessary when the paper is not completely cut, it is advantageous in assisting the proper passage of the paper through the associated printer when the adjustment of a knife of the above type is such to completely sever the paper thereat.

In the above described cycle of operation of advancing the paper to form a blank of a standard size it was assumed that the main or line feed signal controlled paper advancing means advanced the paper for a comparatively fevv lines and that the amount of paper remaining to be advanced by the metering device or auxiliary paper advancing means was sufficient to bring the last printed line of the message past the cutting knife |09. As physical limitations require that the typewheel |21 and the knife have to be separated by a substantial distance it is necessary.

a blank of standard size, the last line of print' must be moved beyond the knife if all the message is to appear on one blank,-such a blank obviously being larger'thanthe' standard size. Accordingly, the following will be a description of the operation of the metering device'operating in conjunction with a message that would be too long to be recorded on a blank of the standard size. In general this is accomplished by insuring that the metering device on the printing platen 44 rotates at least a predetermined amount in conjunction with or in response to each endof-message signals.

Let it be assumed that a sufficient number of line feed operations have been performed so that the friction plate 3S, Figs. l, 5, 6 and 7, has made approximately three-quarters of a revolution, relative to its normal position where a projection |28 extending from the pawl 38 engages with a stop |29 as shown by the full outline thereof in Fig. 6. This engagement stops further rotation of the friction plate 3S and further line feed operations of the printer are not effective to rotate or step the same as they were heretofore. However, since the sleeve 32 on the shaft 22 is positively driven from the platen shaft 43, it will continue to be stepped each time a line feed operation is performed. During these line feed operations following the engagement of the projection |28 with the stop |29, the ratchet 34 rotates or steps past the pawl 37, the notches on the ratchet 34 being arranged to permit this movement of the ratchet relative to the pawl. Each subsequent line feed operation continues to advance or step the sleeve `32 but has no eifect to rotate the friction plate 35 as the same is positively stopped by the pawl 38 engaging the stop |29 and only frictionally coupled to the sleeve 32. Thus the plate 3E remains in an off-normal position such as that shown in Fig. 6 until the receipt of an end-of-messag-e signal as will be described.

Now let it be assumed that the message is completely recorded and an end-of-message signal is received, which as hereinbefore described releases the shaft 22 and the mechanisms attached thereto for one revolution. As the cam 39 rotates with the shaft 22 the notch therein comes into operative relation with the projection 53 on the pawl 38. This allows the pawl 38 to pivot a slight amount in a counterclockwise direction and in so doing withdraw the projection |28 from engagement with the stop |29. Therefore when. the radial section 52 of the cani 39 subsequently engages the projection 53, the projection |28 is clear of the stop |29 and the pawl 38 rotates with the cam 39 for the remaining part of its revolution. The friction plate 36 rotates this part of a revolution with the cam 39 and during such rotation thereof, as hereinbefore described, the platen 40. is rotated. The resistance to rotation of the pawl 38 and its associated elements is sufficient to prevent the same from rotating the instant the projection |28 clears the stop |29 and rotation v thereof does not begin until the surface 52 engages the projection 53. Thus the paper is advanced at least a predetermined amount in response to each end-of-message signal regardless of the numl er of line feed signals in the preceding message and this amount is suflicient to bring the last line of print beyond the cut-off knife |59. The stop |29, which engages with the projection |23 on the pawl 38 when the messages exceed a predetermined amount, is adjustable and therefore the minimum amount that the paper will be advanced in response to the end-ofmessage signal may be varied. Thus when the messages exceed a predetermined length only enoughv paper is advanced to bring the last printed line an adjustable distance beyond the knife and the length of the blank of such messages exceeds the length of the standard size blanks by an amount proportional to the length of the message.

It will be obvious, of course, that various modifications of the apparatus shown and described herein may be made to accomplish the same results Without departing from the spirit of essential attributes thereof, and it is desired therefore that only such limitations be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art or are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a printing telegraph machine responsive to received permutation signals, a recording paper, a main paper feeding mechanism operative in response to an associated signal and adapted to feed said paper a predetermined amount on each operation thereof, an auxiliary paper feeding mechanism operative in response to an associated signal and adapted to feed said paper variable amounts consisting of at least a predetermined amount on each operation thereof, means controlled by each operation of said main paper feeding mechanism following an operation of said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism for invariably decreasing the amount of paper to be fed on a subsequent operation of said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism in excess of said least predetermined amount, and means operative during said subsequent operation of said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism for feeding said paper in accordance with said last mentioned means.

2. In a printing telegraph machine, a recording paper, a selectively responsive main paper feeding mechanism adapted to feed said paper a predetermined amount on each operation thereof, a selectively responsive auxiliary paper feeding mechanism adapted to feed said paper variable Iamounts consisting of at least a predetermined amount on each operation thereof, means controlled by each operation of said main paper feeding mechanism following an operation of said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism for progressively and invariably decreasing to within said least predetermined amount the amount of paper in excess of said least predetermined amount to be fed on a subsequent selective operation of said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism, means operative by said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism for feeding said paper said least predetermined amount plus the amount if any determined by the operations of said main paper feeding mechanism following the previous operation of said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism.

3. In a printing telegraph machine, a recording paper, a main paper feeding mechanism adapted to feed said paper a predetermined amount on each operation thereof, an auxiliary paper feeding mechanism adapted to feed said paper variable amounts consisting of at least a rst predetermined amount on each operation thereof, selective responsive means for controlling the operation of said paper feeding mechanism, means controlled by the number of operations of said main paper feeding mechanism following an operation of said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism when less than a second predetermined amount of said paper has been fed by said main paper feeding mechanism for determining the amount of paper in excess of -said first predetermined amount to be fed during a subsequent A operationof said auxiliarypaper feeding mechanism, means operative Ionisaid subsequent operation of said. auxiliarypaper feedingmechanism when said.I paper has vbeen fed less thanr said r second predetermined. amount by said. main .paper feeding mechanism for feeding said paper Y in. one continuousrmovement said first-predetermined amount plus `.the amount determined by the-number 'of operations of said main paper feedingwmechanism, and means for feeding said paper only said iirst predetermined amount on anroperation:1of;vsaid auxiliary paper feeding :mechanism W-henwthe amount fed by said main paper feeding mechanismfollovving 1an operation of said.. auxiliary paper feeding .mechanism is equal to or in excess of said second predetermined amount.

14,1111 a `printingtelegraph machine, a recordingapaper, a main paper advancing mechanism adaptedto .advance said paper a predetermined distance .oneach operation thereofan auxiliary ,Y paper. advancing. mechanism adapted tov advance said'paperinvthevsame direction variable distances. on each .operation thereof, signal controlledtmeans .for initiatinginto operation said paperl advancingmechanisms, said variable distances consisting of at least a predeterminedl Yminimum distance, means .controlled by theY disvtancesaid paper .is advanced by said main paper said advancing mechanism Yfor determining the distance in excess of-said predetermined mini- 'mum distance-said paperwill be advanced `on a subsequent operation-ofsaid auxiliary paper advancing mechanismy and means for var-ying the 1 predetermined minimum distancesaid paper is .advanced `on an .operation of said auxiliary. ad-

vancing mechanism.

5. 4Inaprinting .telegraph mechanism, a recording paper, a mainfpaper feeding mechanism adapted to advance said paper a predetermined amount on eachxoperation` thereof, -an auxiliary paper feeding mechanism adapted-to advance said paper. variableramounts-on-each-ioperation thereof, a :selectormmechanism`vfor lselectively controlling the operation of Jsaid paper feeding ,mechanisma a `paper metering device having-a v normal position and being. arrangedto vmake one revolution during Veach Acycle of operation thereof wherein said paperis normally advanced a predetermined amount, said. device being progressively advanceable from said-normal position by predeterminedincrements onf-each operation of vsaidmain'fpaper feeding mechanism to a prede- .,termined off-normalJposition, means operative `Whensaid meteringvdevice is rotatedto said offnormal position by said zmain paper* feeding mechanism for rendering succeeding operations thereof ineffective to rotate said device, means for invariably operating said metering device to complete a cycle Vof loperation thereof in one continuous movement on the operation of said auxiliary paper feeding. mechanism irrespective of the amount of rotation thereof by said-main Ypaper feeding mechanism, means dependent upon the-position of said metering device at the time of operationjof .said auxiliary paper feeding :mechanism forfdetermining the amount of paper -fed thereby; and meansfor feeding said paper during" a cycle of operation of said metering device an amountgreater than said normal predetermined amountl by an amount `equal to that fed while said metering-device is stopped in said off -normal position.

6; In a printing telegraph machine, a recording 4papersupplied fto s said:;1m`achine .from aroll #fof considerable length, a; printing mechanism; a

`recording papervsevering mechanism in denite -ispaced .relation relative to said printing mecha- ..nism, a signal controlled main paper advancing mechanism-adaptedto advance said paper a predetermined amount on each operation thereof,

J a'` signalv 'controlledauxiliary paper advancing lfmechanism adapted tov advance said paper vari- '.'able amounts on eachy operation thereof, both of said advancing mechanisms advancing said paper in a direction 'so as to `move it past said printing. and severing mechanisms inv the order named, meansy invariably operative by said auxiliary paperadvancing mechanism to advance thelast printedportion of said paper atleast a 1 predetermined distance beyond-said paper severingmechanism, means controlled by the numf ber ofoperations of said main paper advancing mechanism for determining the distance the last printedl por-tion of said paper is advanced beyond said severingmechanism,A and means operative following the operation y'of said auxiliary paper advancing mechanism tooperate said paper severing mechanism to sever the paper thereat.

.7. fIn.aprintingtelegraph-machine, a recordv ing paper suppliedto said machine from `a supply of considerable length, a printing mechanism, a recording paper-severing mechanism in definite spaced relation relative to said Vprinting mechanism, `a main -paper advancing mechanism adapted tofadvancesaid paper apredetermined vamount-on each vportion thereof, anl auxiliary ypaper `advancing mechanism adapted to advance said paper variabler amounts on each operation thereof,l signal controlled `means for operating \said.paperadvancing mechanisms, both of said `advancing mechanisms advancing said paper in azdirection so-as to'move it past said printing and severing-.mechanisms in the orderV named,

means forfcontroll-ing the operation of said auxil- -iarypaper advancing mechanism sothatvvhen the distance said paper is advanced past said severing mechanism-by operations of said main paper advancingmechanism occurring between operations of-said auxiliary paper advancing mechanism is less than a first predeterminedl distance, said i auxiliary paper advancing mechanism invariably advances said paper past said severing mechamsm a s-econd predetermined distance plus a dis- -tance equal-to the difference between said rst anism, a strip feeding mechanism adapted to feed said strip a predetermined amount in response -to veach strip lfeeding signal, said strip feeding signals-beingincluded vin said message group of signals, means including said strip -severing mechanism-initiated into operation in response to said predetermined message separating signals for feeding said strip and severing the same to form separate sheets of Substantially uniform size when the number of strip feeding signals included in a message group is less than :a predetermined number.

9. In a ypage-printing -telegraph machine, are- -cording` strip; a- -recording" mechanism" for" recording message'groups of signals on said strip, said message groups of signals being separated by predetermined signals, a strip severing mechanism, a strip feeding mechanism adapted to feed said strip a predetermined amount in response to each strip feeding signal, said strip feeding signals being included in said message group of signals, means including said strip severing mechanism initiated into operation in response to said predetermined message separating signals for feeding said strip and severing the same to form separatesheets of substantially uniform size when the number of strip feeding signals included in a message group is less than a predetermined number, and means operative when the number of strip feeding signals in a message group exceeds said predetermined number for feeding said strip and operating said severing mechanism to form separate sheets which are longer than said substantially uniform size by an amount equal to the distance said strip is fed in response to said strip feeding signals in excess of said predetermined number.

10. In combination, a recording web, a printing mechanism for recording in transverselines on said web, a web severing mechanism, a selecting mechanism responsive to received signals for controlling said printing and severing mechanisms, said signals normally being in message groups with each of said groups separated by an end-of-message signal, means controlled by said selecting mechanism operative in response to said end-of-message signal whereby said web is advanced a predetermined amount for each message group of signals, and means for operating said web severing mechanism concomitantly with said last mentioned means to sever said web whereby each of said messages appears on a separate blank of substantially uniform size.

11. In combination, a recording web, a printing mechanism for recording in transverse lines on said web, a web severing mechanism, a selecting mechanism responsive to received signals for controlling said printing and severing mechanisms, said signals normally being in message groups with each of said groups separated by an end-of-message signal, means responsive to said end-of-message signals when the number of signals in a message group is less than a predetermined number for advancing said web so that the amount advanced during the receipt of the message and the amount advanced in response to said end-of-message signal is substantially the same for each message group of signals and said end-of-message signal, means responsive to said end-of-message signal when the number of signals in a message group is greater than a predetermined number for advancing said web only a predetermined amount, and means for operating said severing mechanism following the operation of said last mentioned means to sever the printed portion of said web from the unprinted portion thereof.

l2. In a printing telegraph machine, a recording web, a selectively responsive printing mechanism for recording received signals in successive transverse lines on said web, a signal controlled web severing mechanism adapted to sever said web transversely thereof, a signal controlled web advancing mechanism, means including said signal controlled web severing mechanism for separating said web into separate message blanks of at least a predetermined length, and means including said signal responsive printing mechanism and said severing mechanism whereby the first printed line on each blank is a predetermined distance from the top.

13. In a printing telegraph machine, a selector mechanism, a recording web, a printing mechanism controlled by said selector mechanism for recording received signals on said web, :a web cutting knife located in spaced relation relative to said printing mechanism, said knife having a series of spaced serrations engageable with said web to sever the same, selector controlled means for advancing said web past said printing mechanism and said knife in the order named, selector controlled operating means for said knife, and means for adjusting said knife operating means to vary the amount said cutting serrations engage said paper.

14. In a printing telegrah machine, a selector mechanism, a recording web, .a web advancing mechanism, a printing mechanism for recording received signals on said web and a web cutting knife located in spaced relation relative to said printing mechanism and opposite one surface of said web the operations of which are selectively controlled by said selector mechanism, said knife having' a series of spaced cutting serrations, a pair of spaced longitudinal members on the opposite side of said web from said knife with cooperating edges adapted to form a slot for said knife, the leading one of said members relative to the direction of movement of said web by said advancing mechanism normally being out of alignment with the second one of said members, means for bringing said first member into alignment with said second member at the beginning of the cutting stroke of said knife and means operative during the return stroke of said knife for returning said first member to a normal position out of alignment with said second member to Withdraw the leading edge of said web from said knife slot.

l5. In a printing telegraph mechanism, a recording paper, a signal controlled main paper feeding mechanism adapted to advance said paper a predetermined amount on each operation thereof, a signal controlled auxiliary paper feeding mechanism adapted to advance said paper variable amounts on each operation thereof, a paper metering device having a normal position and being arranged to make one revolution during each cycle of operation thereof wherein said paper is normally advanced a predetermined amount, means normally operative for progressively advancing said metering device from said normal position by predetermined increments on each operation of said main paper feeding mechanism, means for stopping the rotation of said metering device in an Off-normal position after a predetermined amount of rotation thereof by said main paper feeding mechanism, means for completing the revolution of said metering device irrespective of the position thereof on the operation of said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism, and means dependent upon the amount of rotation of said metering device by said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism for determining the amount said paper is fed thereby.

16. Ina printing telegraph machine, a signal controlled selector mechanism, a recording web, a web advancing mechanism, a printing mechanism for recording received signals on said Web and a web cutting knife located in spaced relation relative to said printing mechanism and opposite one surface of said web selectively controlled by said selector mechanism, a pair of spaced longitudinal members on the opposite side of said web from said knife adapted to form a support for said web and a slot for said knife, means for moving said knife through said web and into said slot to sever said web thereat, and means including the position of said pair of longitudinal members after an operation of said knife to prevent the leading edge of said web from entering said slot on a subsequent operation of said web advancing mechanism.

17. In a printing telegraph mechanism, a recording paper, a main paper feeding mechanism adapted to advance said paper a predetermined amount on each operation thereof, an auxiliary paper feeding mechanism adapted to advance said paper variable amounts on each operation thereof, signal responsive means for selectively controlling the operation of saidpaper feeding mechanisms, a paper metering device having a normal position and being arranged to make one revolution during each cycle of operation thereof wherein said paper is normally advanced a predetermined amount, said device being progressively advanceable from said normal position by predetermined increments on each operation of said main paper feeding mechanism to a predetermined off-normal position, means operative when said metering device is rotated to said off-normal position by said main paper feeding mechanism for rendering succeeding operations thereof ineifective to rotate said device, means for invariably operating said metering device to complete a cycle of operation thereof in one continuous movement on the operation of said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism irrespective of the amount of rotation thereof by said main paper feeding mechanism, and means dependent upon the position of said metering device at the time of operation of said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism for determining the amount of paper fed thereby.

18. In a printing telegraph machine, a selector mechanism, a recording paper, a main paper advancing mechanism adapted to advance said paper a predetermined distance on each operation thereof, an auxiliary paper advancing mechanism adapted to invariably advance said paper in the same direction variable distances on each operation thereof, said variable distances consisting of at least a first predetermined minimum distance and not more than a second predetermined maximum distance, means including said selector mechanism for controlling the operation of said paper advancing mechanisms, means operative on successive operations of only said auxiliary paper advancing mechanism for advancing said paper said second predetermined maximum distance, and means for decreasing the distance said paper is advanced on an operation of said auxiliary paper advancing mechanism in excess of said first predetermined minimum distance by an amount equal to the distance saidr make one revolution during each cycle of operation thereof wherein said paper is normally advanced a predetermined amount, said device being progressively advanceable from said normal position by predetermined increments on each selective operation of said main paper feeding mechanism to a predetermined off-normal position, means operative when said metering device is rotated to said off-normal position by selective operations of said main paper feeding mechanismfor rendering succeeding operations thereof ineffective to rotate said device, means dependent upon the position of said metering device atthe time of selectively operating said auxiliary paper feeding mechanisms for determining the amount of paper fed thereby, and means for completing the revolution of said device to said normal position on the selective operation of said auxiliary paper feeding mechanism.

JAMES W. LONG. GEORGE I. ROBERTS. 

